I'm not Adair, and I'm not sure when backbudding happens, but as far as I understand we don't fert between when candles start to push until they harden off to keep the new growth from getting too leggy - the fert can lengthen internodes.

Did some work on this tree today, cut off a branch that has been bothering me for a long time, the lower left branch. It always was going to read as a bar branch, and I couldn't look at it anymore. So I cut off the forward sections and left the back portion of that branch. I think it doesn't read as a bar anymore, but will take off the rest if I see it still looks that way. I did a good bit of wiring, got about 1/3 left to do. But a good start, and the tree was instantly better after cutting off that branch. First pic after the tree was unwired a few weeks ago, then just after I cut the branch off. Last two are after some wiring. I like this tree again now...

Nice job Judy. Looks like the next order of business is to repot in the spring. Miyajima can become very dense and highly ramified over a fairly short period of time. In your climate you canbuild strength by fertilizing early and controlling uniformity of growth with sequential candle breaking/pinching.

Thought I'd update this with some current pictures. This is a new container for the tree built for it by Randy Doughty. It's a really perfect fit for the tree, and shows it off much better than the old pot. Did a bit of wiring as well...it's coming along.

Owen, It's really hard to pick a front from photos. I always have to set it on a turn table.

That said, I do see what you like about IMG3902, but wouldn't that make the trunk pigeon breasted?

As an aside, this tree gives us an opportunity to discuss styling... Judy's current styling is the way a lot of (most?) Americans would style a slant. The trunk leans left, and the first branch, the key branch, comes back to the right. So, that it is "balanced".

On the other hand, the Japanese style would be more like what Owen has suggested, and develop the key branch to extend to the left. The trunk leans left, the key branch should be to the left, under the concept that whatever environmental influences that caused the trunk to lean would also favor the key branch to grow in the same direction as the trunk.

I'm not going to say that one way is right and the other wrong, just point out the difference.